Sherman indicted by grand jury

Determination is sealed by court

Posted
Wednesday, September 4, 2013 12:19 pm

Maxwell Sherman

By Alex Costello

Maxwell Sherman, the 18-year-old former Rockville Centre resident who is accused of murdering Lauren Daverin-Gresham on Aug. 22, was indicted by a grand jury in Nassau County Criminal Court last Friday.

Sherman, who now lives in Long Beach, allegedly strangled Daverin-Gresham on the footbridge crossing Merrick Road in Rockville Centre, leaving her nude and in a pool of blood, according to those who found her body.

Sherman was charged with second-degree murder by the Nassau County Police Department when he was arrested on Aug. 24. He was indicted by a grand jury and Judge Francis Ricigliano on Aug. 30. Sherman’s indictment was sealed and will not be unsealed until his arraignment. No date for an arraignment has been set. According to the District Attorney’s office, the sealing of an indictment is standard practice.

“An indictment really doesn’t come as much of a surprise in light of the very low legal threshold required,” said attorney William Petrillo, who is representing Sherman. “In fact, at a criminal trial, the judge tells the jury that the indictment is evidence of nothing. It’s merely an accusatory instrument.”

Because the indictment was sealed, the charges it contained were not revealed.

Daverin-Gresham, an 18-year-old Lynbrook resident, was found on the footbridge at about 10 p.m. on Aug. 22. David Paiz, a 14-year-old Rockville Centre resident, found her and called police. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.